Manager, Legal & Business Affairs

Job title: Manager, Legal & Business Affairs

PopArabia was founded in 2011 by Canadian hip-hop pioneer, music executive and entrepreneur Spek, in partnership with twofour54 – the Abu Dhabi media zone that is home to the region’s entertainment industry. As a sub publisher, PopArabia represents the world’s leading music catalogs across the MENA territories and has pioneered music licensing in the region since inception. In 2020, PopArabia announced a partnership and joint venture with New York-headquartered Reservoir to sign and develop Arabic talent to export around the world. PopArabia also launched ESMAA later that year, a rights management entity working with the global community of music stakeholders licensing performance, mechanical and neighbouring rights in the Gulf states.

Today, PopArabia operates as a vertically integrated independent music company spanning label, publishing, distribution, music supervision and catalog ownership, with offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Cairo. In 2026, PopArabia completed the acquisition of Egyptian label and distributor Viral Wave, deepening its presence in the Arab world's largest music market and cementing its position as the region's most comprehensive independent music rights company.

The Position

The Legal & Business Affairs Manager will run the day-to-day legal function of the company, acting as a hands-on business partner to the commercial, A&R, content, and cross-functional teams and reporting to the Head of Legal & Business Affairs. The role covers high volume contract drafting, licensing, and regulatory matters across the music business — protecting the company’s interests while enabling artists, catalogue, and commercial partnerships to move quickly. It suits a capable lawyer who can own the day-to-day independently. The role includes, but is not limited to, the following responsibilities.

• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day legal and contractual requests from legal, commercial, A&R and marketing, and cross-companies.
• Draft, review, negotiate (where needed), and manage a wide range of agreements, including mainly artist distribution deals and content distribution deals; also music licensing deals, publishing, label, producer and other supporting agreements, vendor and supplier contracts.
• Understanding of how to handle rights, royalties, and intellectual property matters — including copyright, neighbouring rights, and the registration and protection of the company’s catalogue.
• Ensure all contracts align with company policies, Egyptian law, and industry best practice, coordinating with collecting societies and regulators as needed.
• Review and support agreements involving foreign labels, distributors, and digital platforms, ensuring compliance with relevant local and international regulations.
• Advise internal stakeholders in plain language on contractual rights, obligations, and associated risks.
• Provide practical legal guidance on business decisions, regulatory requirements, and risk mitigation.
• Support the resolution of legal issues, disputes, and infringement claims in coordination with internal teams and external counsel.
• Maintain the contracts / templates and records that keep day-to-day legal work running smoothly.
• Conduct legal research and stay up to date with laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting the music business.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in law (English Section is a must).

• 2–4 years of post-qualification experience, ideally with exposure to the media, entertainment, music, or technology sectors.

• Solid drafting, negotiation, and contract interpretation skills, with the confidence to own routine matters end-to-end. Capable of drafting in both Arabic and English.

• Working understanding of intellectual property, licensing, and commercial risk in contracts; familiarity with music rights is a strong plus.

• Some exposure to cross-border or international agreements.

• Fluency in both English and Arabic (written and spoken) is a must.

• Licensed to practice law (Bar membership required).

• Practical, solution-oriented mindset with good business judgement.

• Equal Employment Opportunity

• PopArabia is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to age, race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, marital status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We believe that embracing diversity strengthens our culture, drives innovation, and contributes to our continued success.